Our research has shown that digital skills provide a unique stepping stone to escape from poverty by improving employment and earning capacity. In 2016/17, 21% of participants in the Trust’s digital literacy programmes secured a job within 12 months.

Many other factors make digital inclusion essential for our nation’s future:

 There are still 120,000 children in year four and above without access to the internet at home
 Government’s new target that 80% of the transactions be fully digital by 2021 is challenging, since many digitally excluded people are high users of government services
 Businesses are in a productivity recession, with GDP per capita flat for the last five years
 Recent research has revealed that 50% of New Zealanders in employment recognise that they need more digital skills to guarantee future employability

According to 20/20 Trust Chair, Laurence Millar, there is widespread community support for these goals, but few government-funded programmes specifically address New Zealand’s digital divide. “It is often incorrectly assumed that because everyone seems to have a mobile digital device that they are ‘digitally literate’”, he said. “Our Manifesto calls on government to prioritise digital inclusion and skills as a core element of all its programmes, for education, for employment, for business and for every aspect of New
Zealanders’ lives.”

This Digital Inclusion Manifesto has in principle support from a growing number of organisations, including Eastbay REAP, Gisborne District Council, Hui-E, Industry Training Federation, InternetNZ, Mayors Taskforce for Jobs, Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru, Public Libraries NZ, REAP Aotearoa New Zealand, SeniorNet Federation of New Zealand, Southern REAP, Spark New Zealand, Tairawhiti Technology Trust, Taranaki eLearning Trust, Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ), Web Access Waikato Trust, WestREAP and Whanganui Chamber of Commerce. Other organisations are expected to give their support in the coming weeks.

“Every political party should make clear their policy on digital inclusion. We look forward to a dialogue with the next government on how New Zealand can achieve full digital inclusion” concluded Mr Millar.

A full copy of the Manifesto and our suggestions about actions that government could take can be
downloaded from our website www.2020.org.nz/manifesto

About the 20/20 Trust
The 20/20 Trust helps New Zealanders participate in the digital world. Our mission is to provide leadership and work with communities to deliver digital inclusion programmes. We believe that every New Zealander
should:
1. Have affordable access to digital devices and services so they can learn, communicate, innovate and
enhance their lives.
2. Have the basic skills needed to use a digital device and access the internet.
3. Be able to safely transact and engage when online and participate in economic, social and cultural
activities.
4. Be included, so that no-one is left behind; our focus is on digitally disadvantaged groups.
5. Be encouraged to create and publish as much digital information as they consume.